Proton transfer reactions of the five substituted phenols 3‐Cl−4‐nitrophenol CNP, 4‐nitrophenol NP, 3‐methyl−4‐nitrophenol MNP, 4‐Cl−3,5‐dimethylphenol CMP, and 3,5‐dimethylphenol DMP with acridine orange, and the formation of hydrogen bonded complexes AHA− of the anions A− of CNP, NP, and MNP with the respective phenols AH in benzonitrile solution were investigated by means of absorption spectroscopy. Thermodynamic data for the formation of the complexes AHA− and of the ionic reactions (1) and (2) of CNP, NP, and MNP with the acridine orange base B
and for the reactions (2) and (3) of CMP and DMP with B were determined. The reactions (1) ‐ (3) are exothermic. The absolute values of ΔH1 increase with the acidity of the phenols. The formation enthalpies of the hydrogen bonded anions AHA‐ are much larger than ΔH1, so that ΔH2 is mainly determined by this association. On the other hand there is no significant difference between ΔH2 and ΔH3; thus the hydrogen bond formed between a phenol and a complexed anion AHA‐ is very weak. Substituent effects on the acidity of phenols are about twice as large in benzonitrile as in aqueous solution.